The management of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU) has lashed out at the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, for describing state-owned universities in the country as “quacks and irrelevant”.

Osodeke, in a recent interview on Arise TV, had also listed some first-generation universities as the ones that matter most in the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by ASUU.

However, the management of EKSU, in a statement issued on Friday by the Head, Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun, described the ASUU President’s remarks as “unfortunate, reckless, and unwarranted”.

Olofinmuagun added: “Ekiti State University, Ado- Ekiti is currently the 14th best university in Nigeria out of about 200 universities (Federal, State & Private) and the 2nd best State University according to the recent Webometric ranking of universities.

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“Apart from the above, the university (EKSU) has nearly all its academic programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant professional regulatory bodies. The university is proud to have many top-rated globally recognised academics, and its alumni are making waves both nationally and internationally.

“By the grace of God, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor-elect of Ekiti State is an alumnus and a former lecturer in the University.  Even in ASUU, a number of staff of our university had served and still serving in various capacities at zonal and national levels including but not limited to Professor Afolabi Popoola, Dr. Sikiru Eniola, Profs. Eddy Olanipekun, Ayan Adeleke, and Olu-Olu Olufayo.”

The university spokesperson stated that categorising EKSU among the quack and irrelevant universities by Osodeke “is a testimony to the fact that the ASUU President is probably uninformed and/or is bereft of ideas.”

“This arrant nonsense coming from Comrade Osodeke is totally unacceptable and condemnable.

“The Management calls on Professor Osodeke to toe the path of honour by retracting the provocative remark and tender an unreserved apology without further delay,” Olofinmuagun noted.

The Star